The Moran Lab is working in collaboration with Dr. Art Woods on an project investigating the interacting effects of extreme cold temperature and high oxygen availability on the metabolism and evolution of Antarctic marine animals. The goal of this project is to understand how the marine ectotherms of the Southern Ocean are uniquely adapted to the extreme low temperatures and high-oxygen conditions found near the Antarctic continent. Our research primarily focuses on opisthobranchs (marine sea slugs) and their egg masses as a simple model system for understanding morphological evolution. This fall in mid-October 2007 we will start our second field season at McMurdo Station. Please stay tuned for photos and weekly updates of our progress! A link to our 2006-2007 season is below and to the left.
